Legendary actress Nia Long is reportedly seeking primary custody of her son with former partner and NBA coach Ime Udoka, allegedly claiming that Udoka isn’t supporting their 11-year-old child Kez.
According to TMZ, Nia Long filed paperwork on Aug. 14 in Los Angeles County Superior Court claiming that Udoka “has failed” to provide support for their son. As such, she requested that a judge grant her primary legal and physical custody of their child. However, court documents also revealed, Nia reportedly asked the judge to allow Udoka to have “reasonable visitation to Respondent consistent with the child’s best interest.”
The judge hasn’t yet made a ruling regarding Nia’s request, and Udoka hasn’t responded to the petition.
The news comes almost a year after the couple ended their 13-year relationship following allegations that Udoka had an affair with a female co-worker while he was the Boston Celtics’ head coach.
“I think the most heartbreaking thing about all of this was seeing my son’s face when the Boston Celtics organization decided to make a very private situation public,” Long told the Hollywood Reporter in December 2022 about the shocking scandal. “It was devastating, and it still is. He still has moments where it’s not easy for him. If you’re in the business of protecting women — I’m sorry, no one from the Celtics organization has even called to see if I’m OK, to see if my children are OK. It’s very disappointing.”
Udoka–who has since become the head coach of the Houston Rockets during this offseason–had apologized in a statement following the Celtics controversy.
“I want to apologize to our players, fans, the entire Celtics organization, and my family for letting them down. I am sorry for putting the team in this difficult situation, and I accept the team’s decision. Out of respect for everyone involved, I will have no further comment,” he said at the time.
Long began dating Udoka in 2009 and the two got engaged in 2015–four years after welcoming Kez on Nov. 7, 2011. The actress also has a 22-year-old son, Massai, from a previous relationship.
Image Credit: Jeff Spicer / Stringer | Getty Images
Readers May Also Like:
Social Media Reacts To Glorilla Encouraging Women To Be Toxic In Their 20s
[FIRST LOOK] ‘The Hustle of @617MikeBiv‘ Documentary Coming To AllBLK
[FIRST LOOK] Netflix Releases the Trailer for ‘Top Boy‘ Final Season
[FIRST LOOK] ‘A Million Miles Away’ Starring Michael Peña, Coming To Prime Video